(Associate) Operations Officer Job #: req34986 Organization: IFC Sector: Advisory Services Grade: GF Term Duration:ย 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Sarajevo,Bosnia and Herzegovina Required Language(s): English, Serbo-Croatian Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 12/4/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.
Under its 2030 strategy, IFC is mobilizing private capital at scale to create more and better jobs, with a particular focus on low-income countries and fragile and conflict-affected states. The strategy centers on four pillars: enhancing origination and mobilization of investments, adopting a new approach to equity, expanding support for micro, small, and medium enterprises, and transforming ways of working and skills across the institution. By concentrating on sectors with the greatest potential for job creationโsuch as infrastructure, agribusiness, healthcare, manufacturing, and tourismโand fostering innovation, inclusion, and climate action, IFC aims to deliver sustainable impact and drive development in the worldโs most challenging markets.
The IFCโs Country Advisory and Economics unit for Europe (CEUAE) is seeking to recruit an (Associate) Operations Officer to be based in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina and reporting to its manager - based in Paris.
The CEUAE team is responsible for:
โข Producing both regional and country-level economic assessments to support IFCโs strategy and operations.
โข Leading/Contributing to WBG country engagement, including analytical and strategic products such as Country Partnership Framework (CPF), Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs), Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDR), as well as IBRD/IDA lending operations; and with World Bank Group (WBG) colleagues to produce analytical products such as and IFC Country Strategies.
โข Putting WGB country strategy and diagnostic recommendations into practice through Advisory projects that engage with governments, regulators, civil society, development partners and other relevant stakeholders to reform markets and sectors and address key bottlenecks to private sector development.
Duties and Accountabilities:
ย The selected candidate will develop market-driven client solutions using local and regional resources. They will ensure CAE programs align with IFCโs strategic priorities and foster private investment opportunities. The Operations Officer will collaborate across all CAE functions. He/She will be responsible for:
โข Contributing to the operationalization of key strategic and diagnostic recommendations through the design and implementation of client-facing Advisory Services projects that support reform implementation and investment facilitation in line with IFCโs strategic priorities.
โข Contributing to IFCโs engagement collaborating with other IFC and World Bank teams to help advance selecting private sector reform priorities through IFCโs upstream and advisory work and the World Bank operations (including policy-based lending and investment lending) and align advisory efforts with private sector opportunities.
โข Conducting sector diagnostics with clients and collaborating with economists and industry specialists.
โข Leveraging partnerships to design and execute reform initiatives.
โข Integrating global best practices and lessons learned to enhance client solutions.
โข Ensuring high-quality project execution, resource efficiency, and client support.
Selection Criteria
โข Masterโs degree in economics, Law, Finance, Business, or a closely related field.
โข At least 5 years of experience in private sector development, with a strong track record delivering IFC government-facing advisory programs and engaging senior government counterparts in the design and implementation of advisory initiatives.
โข Demonstrated ability to deliver impact through advisory engagements in financial and private sector development.
โข Strong understanding of IFC and WBG products and instruments, with the ability to identify opportunities for cross-organizational collaboration. Experience working with IFC and WBG productsโparticularly in leading or supporting cross-industry engagementsโis an advantage.
โข Proven ability to design, negotiate, and lead development of client offerings grounded in deep thematic knowledge and a clear business case for how these solutions enhance client performance.
โข Ability to anticipate how shifts in markets, regulatory environments, business climates, or emerging innovators/disruptors create new opportunities for IFC to advance its mandate in priority thematic areas.
โข Ability to support the strengthening of PPP and broader private-sector enabling environments by combining technical expertise with strong policy, analytical, and stakeholder-coordination skills.
โข Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with a proven ability to build effective relationships with colleagues and maintain productive, collaborative engagements with a wide range of stakeholders.
โข Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and in Serbo-Croatian, with the ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at theย World Bankย andย IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.